DOMINION NEWS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11, 17 May 1913, Page 3

DOMINION NEWS.

DIED IN BED. [Per Press Association.] Wanganui, May 16. At the inqr.cc-t licit! to-day on Henry Parsons, aged 84, who died in bed, a verdict of heart failure was returned. SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT. Wellington, May 16. Vincent Furness and Joseph Patrick McNamara were found guilty in the Supreme Court of assaulting a Chinaman. McNamara'was placed on probation for twelve months with very stringent conditions. Furness, 1 who had been previously convicted of assault, was ordered to be sent to the tree-planting came for nine months. MISSING LAUNCH. Auckland, May 15.

The fishing launch Kathleen left for the fishing grounds in the Gulf on May 2nd, having on 'board Joseph Angelo (owner), and a man named Inkster. They have not since been heard of, and fears are expressed for their safety. PECULIAR CIRCUMSTANCES. Wanganui, May 16. At the Magistrate’s Court this morning, a young man was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment for trespassing on his wife’s premises. The circumstances arc peculiar. The parties separated, and the husband went to Australia, from where he sent threatening letters to his wife. He recently returned, and prowling about the house'where the wife was living, ho was arrested on a charge of trespassing. HATPINS AND TRAMCARS.

Wellington, May 15. The Wellington City Council tonight gave instructions for the drafting of a by-law prohibiting the use of unprotected hatpins in traracars, public streets, or public places. The Council adopted estimates providing for a tramway expenditure totalling £34,800. Of this £11,200 is for new cars. DAMAGED BY FLOODS. . The recent heavy rains caused considerable damage through the flooding of the Wainui-Omata river at the waterworks. The city engineer states that it will cost £7OO to repair the damage.' The rainfall ,< at Wainui off May 1 is described as 'phenomenal. • ' i '* ” " A MPTOII ACCIDENT CASE- • ; ; Invercargill, Mdy l 15. Air Kang and, ;Alfe x King,' ; of. ;the Bluff, proceeded aggihst Tims’. Stone for the recovery of £2OO, being “damages for injuries to plaintiffs and damage to a car in connection with a motor collision, on the Eiverton road on Easter Monday. The Magistrate said that the plaintiffs were quite entitled to recover, and he gave, judgment for £136. In , th6 ) ‘case of ,E- -A. Nichol v. Stone, a, cjajm for .damages in connection with injuries arising out of the King-Stone motor collision, plaintiff, being one of the ; occupants of King’s car at the time of the occurrence, judgment was given in favor of plaintiff for £2O. A stay of execution was granted, pending an appeal in both cases.'

ILLICIT OPIUAI CASE. Invercargill, May 15. Lock Kin, one of the Chinese fined in connection with the opium cases on Wednesday, applied to the Magistrate for a reduction of the fines, which in his case‘aggregated £6O. Counsel for the applicant,’ Air J. Aloffett, stated that Kin was 68 years.old, and suffered from chronic bronchitis. He could not pay £6O, and the rigors of imprisonment might seriously affect him. The Alagistrate reduced the penalty by £2O. All the fines, totalling £75, have been paid.

WRECKAGE IN COOK STRAIT. Wellington, May 15. Captain Collins, of the steamer Moeraki, has reported to the Collector of Customs that when passing through Cook Strait yesterday, about midway between Cape Rock and Cape Koamaru, a ship’s hatch was sighted, with a quantity of deck fittings painted white. THE AGE OF CONSENT. Christchurch, May 15. Frequently at a sitting of the Supremo Court there are cases of unlawful carnal knowledge with girls, and invariably the defence is that accused did and had reason to believe that the girl was of or over the age of sixteen years, the age of consent. In a case this morning Mr Justice Dennistoh took occasion to make some remarks on the subject to the jury. The law, he said, had raised the age of Consent to sixteen, but marred its effect in protecting young girls by providing that if an accused man believed, and had reason to believe, that the girl was of the age of consent, it was a sufficient defence. His Honor considered that it was time that the law should be made more effective, where as now it ceased to he so. A judge could always decide whether there had been temptation, provocation, etc., and if the present defence were taken away it would act as a deterrent to men interfering with young girls.